Chapter 19
Avery
When Jase practically shoves me into the guest room, I’m confused. And hurt. I thought we were really
getting somewhere, and afterst night’s make out session, I’d been looking forward to a repeat of that.
Apparently Jase isn’t. Which sucks. But I scrub my face, brush my teeth, and try not to pout as I crawl
into bed.
In the morning, things are quiet over breakfast again, and Jase doesn’t dally – we’re soon saying
goodbye to his mom and in the car for the journey back.
The closer we get toward campus, the more my panic sets in. Madison had been beyond pissed that I
was going home with Jase, not believing for a second that his motives were virtuous with me, and now
Jase, the guy I’m risking everything for, is barely speaking to me.
When he parks in front of my dorm, we exit the car and I wait while Jase retrieves my bag.
“I don’t know what I did wrong…but I don’t want things to be weird between us now,” I say.
His eyebrows draw together. “You did nothing wrong. I thought maybe I’d rushed you the other night, so
I wanted to make sure you knew that wasn’t all I wanted.”
Oh. I shake my head. “Well, you got quiet on me… so I figured you were mad about something.”
His finger presses over my lips. “Stop thinking so much. I’m not mad. I’m giving you time to sort out
whatever you need to sort out. Just don’t shut me out, okay?”
I nod. “Thanks for this weekend.”
“Thanks for being so sweet to my mom,” he says. He leans down to nt a tender kiss against my
forehead, then turns back for his car.
I was right about Madison’s mood. She sends me suspicious looks and crypticments all afternoon
while I try to study. I’m relieved when Noah shows up for our regr Sunday night dinner in the
cafeteria.
I load my te with mystery casserole, not able to focus on anything but Madison’s suspicions. Am I
being stupid to think there’s something between me and Jase? When I slide into my seat, Noah has
clearly been briefed on my weekend getaway, because he too is scowling at me.
I set my tray on the table, but remain standing in front of them. “What? Will you two just spit it out?”
Noah ces his hand on Madison’s, telling her he’s got this. “We just think you need to be careful. Jase
could be ying some kind of game with you. And you’re bound to fall for him, spending so much alone
time with him.”
Maybe I should take their intervention as concern, but for some reason, it just annoys me. “Is it so
impossible that Jase really likes me? How many other girls has he brought home for the weekend to
meet his mom? Did you ever think maybe this is something different between us?”
Noah holds up his hands in surrender. “Alright. We love you. We support you. As long as you’ve
thought it through.”
Madison smiles weakly and I can tell they’re mentally deciding to pick up the pieces when I get
dumped.
“Fine.” I slide into the seat and stab at the food on my te. Do they know something I don’t? Is this all
going to blow up in my face like they think?
By Tuesday afternoon, I’m looking forward to human sexuality ss if only to see Jase. Professor
Gibbs’ lecture is about self-love, i.e., masturbation – a topic I’m decidedly ufortable with. Sure,
I’ve tried it, but I don’t get the hoo. He discusses the importance ofmunication with your partner
and part of that effectivemunication is first understanding your body and its needs. I am so damn
ufortable during the entire lecture that by the time ss is over, I escape out the doors, Jase’s
deep chuckle making the hairs on the back of my neck rise as he follows me.
N?velDrama.Org ? content.
I slip into our regr booth while Jase orders the coffee. I get my blushing under control by the time he
returns, delivering a cup of coffee to me with a smirk.
He sits down across from me, his eyes yfully dancing on mine. I brace myself for the embarrassing
comment he’s sure to make from the lecture. Only he doesn’t. His eyes grow serious and he leans in
toward me, his unique scent of cologne and fabric softener greeting me. “You sure you’re okay with
what happened between usst weekend?”
I swallow. “Why wouldn’t I be?” I want to appear, cool, effortlessly sexy, and easy going. Too bad I’m a
bundle of nerves, gripping the table in front of me for support, ready to melt into a puddle on the floor
with the way Jase is looking at me.
His voice drops an octave lower. “Because I’m willing to lend my services…to extend your assignments
into a gray area I’ve nicknamed Operation Avery’s First Orgasm.”
Eek! I was hoping he’d forgotten thatment I’d made at the coffee shop, but clearly he hasn’t. I
mp my thighs together and remind myself to breathe. There are no words for the tingles Jase can
send through my body with only his deep, sexy voice. That certainly never happened with my high
school boyfriend, Brent.
“Whistle? You okay?” He takes my hand and absently traces his thumb across my palm. “Breathe for
me, okay.”
I pull in a ragged breath, still unable to speak.
His cocky smile is back. “Just think about it, babe.”
I manage a nod.
Jase takes a sip from his coffee, his eyes still watching mine over the brim of the cup. “There’s
something I don’t understand,” he says, running a hand through his messy hair. “You said you had a
high school boyfriend, and you guys were pretty serious…”
Oh God, I can’t have him asking questions about Brent. “Uh huh.”
“And yet, you’ve never…” He raises his eyebrows. “So I take it you guys never messed around?”
I feel like I’m having an out of body experience. I can’t believe Jase wants to talk about my past…love
life, orck thereof. This is crazy. I feel like I’m floating above us, watching, preparing to witness my
demise. “We experimented a little, but never had sex.”
He frowns. “And no orgasms for you?”
“Why are you so obsessed with my non-orgasmic status? Some girls just don’t have them, okay?”
“Um, no. That is most definitely not okay with me.”
I roll my eyes. “Madison said I probably would have if he… never mind.” I need a muzzle. Seriously, I
should be shot. The things he’ll get me to admit to….
Jase pins me with an icy re. “If he what?”
“Used his mouth,” I squeak out. It wasn’t actually how she’d put it, but I wouldn’t use those rude words
to describe it.
“And he wouldn’t?” Jase’s eyes widen.
I shake my head. “He said he didn’t do that.”
Jase throws his head back in disgust, groaning as his eyes roll back in his head. “Any guy who has a
policy against that is a fucking idiot.”
The nervous waves crashing inside me erupt into an all-out frenzy with this information. Jase’s opinion
on oral sex shouldn’t ignite my sex-drive, make my skin tingle, or heat mydy parts, yet that’s exactly
what happens.
His expression grows dark, more serious as he leans in closer. “Baby, if you let me, I wouldn’te up
for a week.”
Holy. Crap.